Rating: 
Summary: Exciting. Light. Riveting.
Review: I read "The Bourne Identity" about 8 years ago. The book is just non-stop excitement. I've always believed in reading the book before watching the movie. If you've seen the recent movie with Matt Damon (or the old one with Richard Chamberlin), I can only say this: the book is a 100 times more exciting, with suspense unfolding constantly. I had a great time reading it! It's a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Parlez vous¿ Sprechen se
Review: My best friend recommended The Bourne Identity to me fifteen years ago. I should have read it then. My French would have been fresher. When I purchased this book, I did not realize that both French and German languages accompanied the English. While the passages in foreign languages are very short, usually no more than one sentence, it is sometimes not clear from the context what is being said. One passage, perhaps the longest in French, comes at an essential point in the story. I did not follow the French - my high school French class was fifteen years ago. About 50 pages later, the passage is explained. While one need not be fluent in French and German to enjoy this novel, some familiarity with French would be helpful. The amount written in German is much less. In all, the story can probably be enjoyed by someone with no knowledge of French or German. The other reviews tell you plenty about the plot. Suffice it to say Ludlum is a master storyteller. Story-weaver would be more fitting. This book has more twists and turns than a bowl full of spaghetti. If I were a faster reader, I would not have been able to put it down. This book is now the standard by which I judge the ability of other writers. I would dare say that Trevanian, Clancy, and Deighton, do not write as engagingly as Ludlum. He consistently hooked me at the beginning and ending of every chapter. I was compelled to read further, to find out who Jason Bourne really was, why he knew the things he knew and did not know the things he did not know. Where there some slow points? Yes, but well written. Does Ludlum repeat some things during the story? Yes, but only in Bourne's attempt to unravel the mystery for himself. Some reviewers felt it was over done. I felt it added to the intensity, the urgency, of Bourne's dilemma. I will also add that his is one of the few novels that I have read that evoked a good number of emotional responses from me. Particularly in the first section of the book, I was quite put off by Bourne and the things he would do to stay alive. He was ruthlessly cruel, but develops into a character who is not bloodthirsty, rather selective in directing his undivided attention at people. Two other comments...
...I thought the profanity used in this book was a bit much. It is no Pulp Fiction, but the cursing was pretty heavy. Were it not for the profanity, I would give this book five stars, three instead.
...On a technical note, unless I'm greatly mistaken, you cannot use a silencer on a revolver as Ludlum tells us several characters do. In the end, I have a feeling that anyone who likes adventure, mystery, and spy-craft genre novels will enjoy this book. I wonder now why I waited 15 years to read it. Oh, because they finally made a movie out of it (which I am certain cannot hold a candle to the book - movies never can).
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've ever read!!!!
Review: This is one of the greatest books I've ever read. Ludlum is the best spy thriller author since Ian Flemming. This book will keep you guessing with every chapter. READ THE BOOK, THEN SEE THE MOVIE!!!! The book is much better although the movie is very good. I recommend this book to everyone. One last suggestion, Read more of Ludlum's books!!! I've read many of them and each is as action packed and full of suspense, I'd also reccomend "The Prometheus Deception". BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: ok this book is ummm.
Review: i liked bourne or cain or david webb, whatever you want to call him. he was cool. but maria was so annoying, "oh my only love," don't lie to me, i couldn't breathe i knew you were leaving. that was horrible it ruined the entire book. oh and the worst part... so who is carlos?
Rating: 
Summary: Good but Slow
Review: I too started this book when I heard about the movie being made. It took me a while to get past page 20 (it is kind of overwhelming). Overall I liked the book, but I agree with the reviewer who said that there are fast-paced parts that keep you reading followed by dull action sequences and reiterations of things you've already learned. I liked the twists, but they got a little buried under unnecessary parts. But the good does outweigh the bad, so you should definitely try this book!
Rating:
Summary: Why?
Review: I just finished The Bourne Identity and was left with the question: Who originally shot Bourne and why? The book was good, but I think the movie will be easier to follow.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense and humanity
Review: First things first... A lot of learned people I speak to tend to "diss" Ludlum as "pop" writing or bad litterature. The fact is, I've read a lot of the classics and tomes that are frequently regarded as priceless material, (Tolstoy, Dickens, Shakespear, etc. etc.) and I cannot think of any that even touch this book, [...] this trilogy, in suspense and drama. They grasp your attention from the start, and never let go. All aspects of life, both human and material, are examined, and dealt with with both grace AND shock - all through the eyes of an amnesiac spy and a woman who believes in him. The complexities and shear brilliance of plot are second to none. (the Supremacy and Ultimatum books are just as good, in my opinion) Ludlum in this trilogy is at his very best. In many of his other volumes, a distinct pattern is obvious in his structures; nazis, old nazis or new nazis are the bad guys, while a male spy and his girl are out to save the world, etc. Don't get me wrong, I've read most of his other books and found them all good, but they ARE formulaic. They are comperable to Rossini Operas (overtures in particular); Good overall = all the same, yet all different = all at the same time. In this trilogy however, his imagination, knowledge of covert ops and the DEPTH of his psychological character profiles are un-matched, and perhaps even un-matchable. All three books are a must read. They are fine independently from one another, but really should be read in order for the full effect. By the way, the new movie is ok, but it's nowhere near the book; as usual, read the book first, and complain about the movie after. Whats with the removal of the French-Canadian anyways?!! Shame! I can hardly believe Ludlum was part of the production at all. G
Rating: 
Summary: Oh my [...]! Why did I read this book?
Review: I feel like I must have tripped into "The Twilight Zone" when I read favorable reviews for "The Bourne Identity." This is the worst book I've ever actually finished. I didn't finish it because I cared what happened, I finished it because I was stupid enough to spend [...] on this [...]. I haven't done an official count yet, but every character in the book combine to say "Oh [...]!" about 300 times. The question "Why?" takes up about 1/3 of the book - and cheese and sap cover the rest. The action is as overly dramatic as the romance, but the plot is just plain dumb. Nothing frustrated me more while reading this book than discovering, with every chapter, that it was just getting worse. Because of some unfortunate rift in the universe, Robert Ludlum is wealthy, but many people with actual talent are not.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book, skip the movie
Review: I read the book when I saw the trailer for the movie. The book was so awesome that I was pumped to see the movie. The first day it came out I went to see it. They didn't even have Carlos!!! Do yourself a favor and stick with the book. It was hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Fast and furious
Review: this book moves as fast as any that i have ever read and it has such a twisted plot that keeps the reader thinking about what happened earlier on in the book. best spy novel i have ever read.
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